Metallica - Black Album (gear questions)

[Philly Q]

You need something that will be a bit like a EMG60 which is like a mini humbucker (think Firebird or LP Deluxe).
Maybe a Cold Sweat neck or something - even something with a P90 tone like an MQ

Yeah, the 60 is very bright.  I had one years ago and even in the neck position it was brighter than either an 81 or 89 in the bridge.  That's the way Hetfield likes it, I suppose.

[Ratrod]

EMG loaded Explorers in a Mesa Mk IV seem to be dominant. Kirk used a couple of Marshalls here and there. He used his signatures and a Randy Rhoads. If I remember correctly, some Dumble equippement was used as well.

Loads of production on that album. On Nothing Else Matters up to 5 guitars are used. The White Falcon was through an old Fender Supro, I believe.

I still love that album.

[Simon D]

As far as getting close to Black album tone goes, until recently I had a set of alnico WPs in an ESP M302 (strat style, similar to one of Kirk's sig ESPs), and it nailed the sound pretty close after a little tweaking of the amp.

The alnico WPs are also (in my opinion, which is by no means expert   ), very versatile in terms of what else you can do with them i.e they coil tap down nicely etc. Having not used ceramic ones, I'm not sure if the same applies, but I'll bet someone does know and will hopefully say so.

[guitarslinger]

So, nobody's going to mention Kirk used a CAE 3+ with a VHT 2150 just like Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine during the same period.

Talk to HC Forumite 4NKAM.  He is the Monty Jay guy who knows everythign about Metallica's gear.  He has pics of every live and studio rig they've ever used

[Word Bearer]

I was just about to mention Monty-Jay.

If I could remember the link to his site then I'd post it, you should be able to google it though.

[screamingdaisy]

The Metallica part of his website is frozen again or else I would've posted it a few days ago.